Pull the trigger or not?

rooster 58 · September 01, 2020, 06:14:02 PM

Hi all,
Been awhile since I posted. I've been running a 35 for two years now. Last year was no great shakes. This year, I'm backed up so far I can't see daylight. I'm looking hard at upgrading to a 50. The problem is they're 12 weeks out on production, which puts me out until the end of November at least, where here in Colorado the snow will most likely be falling pretty hard by then.
Another option is to go with a 40 super, which doesn't have the chain turner. But I could really use a bigger, faster mill.
I'm sitting on the fence about this. What would you'll do? Moving up would also allow me to do more hot shot trucking

Magicman · September 01, 2020, 07:14:59 PM

If I was buying new right now, it would be an LT40 Super.

Larry · September 01, 2020, 09:33:29 PM

All you have to do is watch somebody with the claw and compare to the chain turner. I saw grade and logs with humps where I flip 180 degrees. I'm half way done before the guy with a claw gets the log turned.

I don't know what your market is like, but a lot of my business the past year is live edge slabbing big logs. I would want something that says WIDE! Thinking a new TK but they are 9 months out.

Southside · September 01, 2020, 09:42:39 PM

Larry is spot on, there is no comparison between a claw and a chain. I use my clamp to flip cants so there is no marking at all, and I use the chain with the claw to reverse flip tall, skinny, cants, it's fast, easy, and does not leave a mark. Can't do that with a claw - and yes, I do own one of each.

rooster 58 · September 02, 2020, 09:21:24 AM

Yeah, the chain turner is the fly in the ointment. I could step into a 40 super today at Woodmizer Colorado. Almost all of my custom portable sawing is live edge slabs. The 26" throat on my 35 is a huge disadvantage for that type of work.
My mill is currently set up at a nearby business that specializes in slabs and custom finish work. Ben has the first lx250 that came out of Indy. Recently, he advertised lumber sales, and since then we have been flooded with orders of all types, including large timbers. Today, we will be sawing 24' 6x6 and 8x8s. Which poses another question. Remote mill or walk with. I like the remote mill, but I'm thinking of a 12' extension, which requires the walk with mill. Sorry for the long post!

Stephen1 · September 02, 2020, 09:54:30 AM

If your friend has the wide, all you need is the fast. LT40HD Super wide would be the best. You can always get a seat and ride the extension for sure.
The chainturner I have not experienced, but a super might make up the lack of it for the claw turner.
I saw a lot of huge (to me and my 40) with just a claw and the clamp and do just fine.
I do wish I had the super, as I am seeing more lumber orders coming in.

petefrom bearswamp · September 02, 2020, 11:44:23 AM

As many of you have seen here my mill is now in Arkansas, but I got by just fine with the claw and clamp.
Claw for turning the log, clamp for the cants.
But I was never into high production.
So far I haven't missed my mill at all.
My neighbor is starting out and will take my place for local lumber sales.
He has a brand new I think LX350, but not sure of the exact model.

Walnut Beast · September 02, 2020, 02:31:28 PM

Quote from: Larry on September 01, 2020, 09:33:29 PM
All you have to do is watch somebody with the claw and compare to the chain turner. I saw grade and logs with humps where I flip 180 degrees. I'm half way done before the guy with a claw gets the log turned.

I don't know what your market is like, but a lot of my business the past year is live edge slabbing big logs. I would want something that says WIDE! Thinking a new TK but they are 9 months out.

Well your in luck! It's 7 to 9 weeks on getting a new TK mill. So no thinking 🤔 about it now

terrifictimbersllc · September 02, 2020, 02:35:54 PM

Sometimes I get logs like 2 year old red oak where the bark wants to slip off in large pieces.

Those make a big mess on the mill bed as sawing proceeds.

My 70Super has the chain turner, and it is quite fun to spin such a log around about 5 times in maybe 10 seconds after it rolls onto the mill bed. Bark goes flying everywhere.

The "help" is entertained, until afterwards when I motion to them to clear it all out, while I have a sip on my coffee.

:D :D :D :D

Walnut Beast · September 02, 2020, 02:42:18 PM

Well you earned it. Your the man with the big dog Sawmill. So keep sipping 😂😂

rooster 58 · September 04, 2020, 06:43:36 AM

There's a 70 for sale in Denver. No information was available in the ad. I put in a query and received a call while I was sawing, so I didn't here it. I'm not sawing today so maybe I'll find out about it :D

samandothers · September 04, 2020, 09:14:57 AM

Well there you go! Good things come to those that wait!

rooster 58 · September 04, 2020, 09:39:20 AM

It has to say wide in the blade box!

rooster 58 · September 05, 2020, 08:51:12 PM

Well, its a 2010 model so it can't be a wide head. I think I'm gonna get in line and order a 50. When is the 70 going on sale? And are there any out there?